Folding bedstead



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

H. L. ALBEE.

FOLDING BBDSTEAD.

No. 358,101. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. LALBEE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 858,101. Patented Feb.22, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet `3.

H. L. ALBEE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 358,101. Patented Fe'b. 22, 1887.

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UNITED SATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. ALBEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,101, dated February22, 1887.

Serial No. 203,591. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, HENRY L. ALBEE, of Boston, in the county of Sul'iolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inFolding Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectionthrough a folding bedstead constructed in accordance with my invention,the same being in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar section withthe movable portion inclined to the upright portion; Fig. 3, a similarsection with the bedstead in a position ready for use, parts beingbroken away. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the upright head-boardportion of the'same. Fig. 5 is an interior detail perspective view ofone of the movable pivots on which the bedbottom swings. Fig. 6represents in detail one of the graduated weights employed in balancingthe bed-bottom when swung up or down. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are details tobe referred to. Fig. l0 is a section on the line vx of Fig. 5.

My present invention relates to that class of folding bedsteads having ahead which is stationary in an upright position and a bed-bottom whichis so connected therewith by apair of rolls moving on tracks andconstituting adjustable fulerums as to be capable of being swung downtherefrom in a horizontal position when required for use and swung upinto a vertical position, so as to close with the upright stationaryhead when not in use; and my invention consists in dividing thestationary upright head into two sections, which may be taken apart topermit of the ready disch-- gagement of the movable portion therefromfor convenience in transportation-as, for instance, in carrying thebedstead up or down stairs and through passage-ways and doors, where itwould be impossible to move it when in itsset-up or connected position.

My invention consists, also, in a track having a projecting portionwhich enters an opening in the upper part of the upright head forlocking it to the lower portion of the same.

My invention also consists in a series of weights of peculiar form hungon a transverse bar, and by which the counterpoise of the bedstead-bodyis regulated in a convenient manner from the inside or front, andwithout moving thebedstead from the wall of the room, as was necessaryheretofore where weights were located in a box extending transverselywith the bedstead.

In the said drawings, A represents the upright stationary head dividedinto two parts on the line w w, (see Figs. 3 and 5,) and B the movablebody of the bedstead, adapted to be swung down into a horizontalposition when required for use (see Fig. 3) and into a closed positionagainst the uprighthead, Fig. 1,when not in use, this movement beingmade possible by means of movable fulerums constructed and arranged asfollows:

To the inner surface of each side rail, ,0, of the movable portion issecured a plate, O, having a boss, d, projecting through an opening insaid side rail, the boss having inserted therein a small steel axis orgudgeon, e, on which turns freely a groovcd wheel, f, which runs upon ametal track, D, screwed to the top ofthe lower part, b, of the uprighthead A, the under side of the upper part, a, of the head being recessedout or cutaway at gfrom inside to outside, (transversely,) so that whenthe upper part is in position an opening is formed for the unobstructedmovement of the fulcrum-wheel f on the track D, the outside of saidopening being closed by a strip, h, so as to give a finished appearanceto the head, Fig. 10.

Each end of each track is bent up at right angles thereto, as at la 7c',Fig. 7, and may be surrounded with a rubber block, z, Fig. 5, or not,the upright portion of the track in either case serving as a stop tolimit the movement of the roll thereon. The upper frontend, lr, of eachtrack D is also bent at right angles to its vertical portion, as at k,and enters a hole, Fig. 5, formed inthe contiguous edge or surface ofthe upper part, a, of the head A, and locks it in its uprightposition tothelower part, b, of the head, this construction being particularlyuseful, inasmuch as when the track is unscrewed the separation of thetwo parts of the head is permitted, thus enabling the movable bodyportion B to be detached from the head when the bedstead is to betransported or carried over narro'w stairs or through narrow doors,halls, orpassage-ways, which otherwise could not be done.

ICO

To the inner surface ofl each upright side of the head A is attached along track-plate, G, of the form and location seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and9, its shape being that of two curves, forming an angle with each otherat Z, and the rear of this curved track-plate G is provided with aflange, H, at right angles thereto, consisting of two portions, m a. thefront edge of the lower part of the curved track-plate being alsoprovided with a fiange, I, parallel to the lower portion, n, of theflange H.

At the rear of each side bar ofthe movable body portion B is pivoted aroll, p, (preferably covered with rubber to make it noiseless,) which isintended to run against the flanges H I in the different positionsassumed by the body portion B when being swung up or down, these flangesserving as guides for controlling and limiting the motion of the saidbody portion B, the rolls p being in Contact with the upper part, m, ofthe rear iiange, H, while the body B moves on its changing fulcrum asthe body is being swung up or down between a horizontal position and aposition at about thirty degrees with the horizontal, at whichinclination, Fig. 2, the rolls p bear on the flan ge H at the junction Zof its upper and lower curved portions, m a. Then swung up from thisposition, the rolls p leave the point Z and commence to bear on theinsides of the lower portions, a, of the flanges H, and as the body Bapproaches the vertical the rolls bear on the insides of the frontiianges, I, by which arrangement the finished under side of' the body,which becomes the front of the bedstead when closed, is drawn toward theright or stationary head and prevented from chafing against the lowertransverse portion, q, which forms the bottom iinish of the upright headA.

Vhen the movable body B is closed up against the upright head A, therolls p are located at the bottom of the track-plate G, between theflanges I and the lower portions, n, of the flanges H, bearing chieiiyon the flanges I, Fig. l, and in this closed position of the body B itsmovable fulcrum -wheels f bear against the rear upper ends of the railD, or against the rear blocks, e', if they are provided, Fig. 1.

When the body B commences to be swung down, the rolls p move up betweenthe flanges I and the lower portions, a, of the flanges H, and beforereaching the point Z transfer their pressure from the anges I to therear flanged portions, n, the movable fulcrum-wheels f simultaneouslytraversing their tracks D from their rear toward their front ends, andby the time the body of the bedstead has reached an inclination of aboutthirty degrees with the vertical (see Fig. 2) these fulcrum-wheels j'have reached about the middle of their tracks D and the rolls p havearrived at the junctions Z of the flanged portions m n.

As the body B is being swung down from its inclination of thirty degreestoward the horizontal, the rolls p leave the points Z and run upon theportions m of the flanges H, the movable fulcrum-wheels f simultaneouslyrunning on their tracks D till they strike against their front ends orrubber blockst' thereon, at which time the body B will have reached ahorizontal position,with its front supportinglegs, s, on the floor orcarpet, and the rolls p will have reached the top,or nearly to the top,of the portions m of the flanges H. (See Fig. 3.)

rlhe swinging of the body portion B on its traveling fulcrums isaccomplished by a slight effort of the hand in the direction required bymeans ofthe following arrangement ofweights, which balance,or nearlybalance,thesaidbody at any point of its constantly-changing inclination.

L are a series of metal blocks or weights of the form seen in Fig.6,eaeh being hook shape at its top lto enable it to hang upon atransverse bar, M, extending horizontally between the opposiie sides ofthe body B at its head. Each weight L fits loosely upon the bar M, andis also provided with a channel or groove, t, for convenience inapplying the fingers thereto when it is to be lifted in place upon orremoved from said bar. This division of the weights is of considerableadvantage, as by it the proper counterpoise of bedsteads of differentweight and construction may be nicely adjusted. For instance, one havinga lookingglass attached to the bed-body would require a greater weightto balance it during the different positions which it assumes whilebeing swung up or down than the same style of bedstead without theglass, and these weights may be graduated so as to weigh from one poundupward, to adapt them to different sizes and weights of bedsteads.Furthermore, one or more weights may be added or removed from theirsupporting-bar from the inside or front of the bedstead,instead of from`its baclnwhich might be against the side of' the room, and wouldconsequently require to be moved away therefrom to obtain access to thebox or receptacle heretofore employed for the reception of large weightsinconvenient to handle.

I nd it very desirable to use a steel gudgeon or axis, e, for eachfulcrum-wheelj', as thereby I can use a wheel of smaller diameter and ashorter track, D, and consequently a narrower' upright head, A, thanwere the gudgeon of cast-iron, which would necessarily be of largerdiameter than the steel gudgeon, a fulcrumwheel of larger diameter beingalso required with said larger cast-iron gudgeon, which larger wheelwould also require a longer track, D, in order that the differentmovements of the body B might be properly made. By making the upright Ain two portions I am enabled to make its upper portion, a, higher andgive it a better nish, which., if made in one piece, could not becarried through narrow passages, Ste.

I am aware that weights have been located in a box extending between thesides of the movable body portion of a bedstead. I therefore disclaimsuch construction.

I claim as an improvement in folding bedsteads 5 l. The upright orstationary head A, having each of its sides divided into two portions, ab, a track, D, secured to its lower portion, b, and an opening, g,formedin the under side of the upper portion, a, in combination with theIo movable body portion B, having each of its sides provided with arolling fulcruni-wheel, f, substantially as specified.

2. The track D, having its upper front end provided With a projection,k, and the lower 15 part, b, of the contiguous side of the upright headA, to which it is secured, in combination with the corresponding upperpart, a, of the head, provided with an opening for the reception of saidprojection to lock the two parts a b of the head together, substantiallyas de- 2o scribed.

3. The combination, with the transverse bar M, of the movable body B,and a series of weights, L, each formed of three portions, to wit: anupper hook-shaped portion to enable it to be 2 5 hung upon said bar, alower rectangular portion having a groove in its under side, and aninterposed rectangular connecting portion, substantially as'specified.

Vitness my hand this 18th day of May, 1886.

HENRY L. ALBEE. ln presence of- N. NV. STEARNS, H. W. STEARNs.

